Job 1:19 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

From the wilderness— From the further part, or across; whence it appears that Job's situation was on the northerly side of the Arabian desart; the stormy winds in those countries blowing from the southerly quarters. Heath. It has been urged by some, that it is very unlikely that so many misfortunes should fall at once upon this good man, as that the messenger of one bad piece of news had no sooner done speaking, than another and another comes. But it should be observed, that the unlikelihood of a thing, or its very rarely happening, is no argument against the truth or credibility of it; especially in a case so extraordinary as this, where the great adversary of mankind, who delights in doing mischief, had so large a scope permitted him. But, suppose we should here claim an allowance for the poetical way of describing things in expressions somewhat figurative and hyperbolical. It is very usual in common speech to say, when a man's misfortunes succeed each other very quick, that they followed close upon the heels of each other. Job's messengers here perhaps do the same; and the poet, as I take it, may have the privilege of drawing out a figure of speech to its full length. Further, as to the remarkable circumstance of only one servant escaping with the news of each calamity, it may be exactly according to the fact, for any thing that appears to the contrary. Besides, it is not told us by the historian, but by each messenger who brought the bad news, and who probably might think so in the hurry of his fears, though there were others saved beside himself; for, when people are dispersed in a fright, and run different ways, one who finds himself alone after a long flight, may easily conclude himself the only person that escaped. Peters.